Gene Taylor | Saul Phillips | Men’s Basketball Recap | Baseball and Softball | Year in Review
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Bob
Leo
APRIL 2014
14
REACHING BEYOND THE SUMMIT
A look back at the riveting 2014 men’s basketball season and its memorable run to the NCAA tournament and beyond.
AT A GLANCE OPENING
8 Editor’s Note 8 Meet The Team 10 FROM THE PUBLISHER BISON PRIDE
34 On Top of their game 36 The Art of 40 44 48 52 55 84
62
YEAR OF THE BISON
We highlight the top 10 moments from one of the most historic seasons in Bison history.
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88 90 92
Rotation Explosive Talent History in the Making We’re Ready Road Warriors Going the Distance The Heckendorf Way Team Makers Swany Says POP QUIZ
MORE info@spotlightmediafargo.com bisonillustrated.com @bisonmag facebook.com/bisonillustrated
APRIL 2014 | VOLUME 8 ISSUE 9 Bison Illustrated is a free publication distributed monthly (9 times a year).Our mission is to help promote North Dakota State University Athletics, provide a quality and fun reading experience and to improve the way of life in our community. The publication is mailed to homes across the US and has stand distribution throughout North Dakota and Minnesota.
PUBLISHER
Spotlight Media
PRESIDENT
Mike Dragosavich
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR ART DIRECTOR EDITOR
Andrew Jason Andy Neidt Joe Kerlin
DESIGN/LAYOUT
Andy Neidt, Sarah Geiger, George Stack, Paige Mauch
RESEARCHERS/ CONTRIBUTORS
Josh Swanson, Joe Kerlin, Madalyn Laske, Paul Bougie, Sarah Tyre
COPY EDITORS
Joe Kerlin, Madalyn Laske, Andrew Jason, Lisa Marchand, Alexis Klemetson, Paul Flessland
GENERAL MANAGER SALES MANAGER MARKETING/SALES CIRCULATION MANAGER PHOTOGRAPHY
Brent Tehven Paul Hoefer Tracy Nicholson, Dennis Britton, Paul Bougie, Nick Bruns, Scott Eickschen, Christy Brink Codey Bernier J. Alan Paul Photography, NDSU Athletics, Ben Gumeringer, Heidi Jaeger, Paul Flessland, Brent Tehven
ADMINISTRATION
Erika Olson
SPECIAL THANKS
Ryan Perreault, Wes Offerman, Ryan Anderson, Jeff Schwartz, Colle en Heimstead
SENIOR WEB DEVELOPER WEB DEVELOPERS DELIVERY
Nick Schommer Nathan Anderson Chris Larson, George Stack, Matt Johnson
FOR ADVERTISING CALL 701-478-SPOT (7768) or email info@spotlightmediafargo.com
Bison Illustrated is published monthly by Spotlight Media LLC. Print quantity exceeds 20,000 per issue. Printed in the U.S.A. Bison Illustrated does not necessarily endorse or agree with content of articles or advertising presented. Bison Illustrated assumes no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts or photographs. Bison Illustrated is NOT an official publication of North Dakota State University. Send change of address information and other correspondence to: Spotlight Media LLC. 502 1st Ave N. First Floor Fargo ND, 58102 or info@spotlightmediafargo.com
JESSICA WACHTER CLASS OF 2009 - ARTIST/CONSULTANT
I’M PROUD TO BE AN NDSU ALUM My name is Jessica Wachter and being an NDSU alumna makes me proud.
I’m proud because when I was a student, I loved campus life and was very involved in many activities. After graduation I did not want to disconnect with the university. I am grateful that NDSU alumni and friends embraced my passion and welcomed me to participate in the Bison Arts Gala. Through that involvement, I now serve on the Bison Arts Board of Directors which is very engaging and exciting. I often donate my time and works of art
for NDSU causes which is very rewarding for me. When I meet people, I proudly share that I am an ambassador for NDSU and communicate the many successful university stories. If we all participate and demonstrate our NDSU spirit, then we can make a difference for current students and enrich North Dakota State’s tradition of excellence.
www.NDSUalumni.com
NOTE
Bison fans control own perception FROM THE EDITOR
During the stretch of success in basketball, football, wrestling and track and field, it’s easy for Bison fans to forget the one characteristic that represents this region of America more than any other characteristic.
Joe Kerlin
Editor, Bison Illustrated C O N TA C T M E
joe@bisonillustrated.com
@bisonmag
facebook.com/bisonillustrated
@j_kerlin
In last month’s issue,
we examined the recruiting process of athletes and the tactics used by many coaches at NDSU. I wanted to start the story by showing you where all of our favorite athletes are from. To no surprise, more than 67 percent of Bison student athletes are from either the Dakotas or Minnesota. Some of you may label this region the upper-Midwest. Being from the upper-Midwest, many of us understand the Nordic tradition of our ancestry and understand why most of our families have never left. Sixty-seven percent of our athletes are the same. We keep to ourselves and enjoy each other’s company. We are tightly-knit, but not seclusive. We are isolated from the big city, but not insulated from the spotlight. Since August, NDSU Athletics has brought two-fold the amount of attention to Fargo than any other stretch of time since the Coen Brothers dropped an everlasting shadow over the area in 1996 with their crime-drama “Fargo.” The difference is this time we are controlling people’s perception of Fargo. Not the media and not Hollywood. We are taking it upon ourselves to cast a positive light to the community our roots are buried hundreds of years deep in.
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NDSU has done their job by bringing the attention north; it’s what we do with the publicity that matters. We have the ability to control how we want to be perceived. Florida has jorts. Duke has the Kameron Krazies. What will the Bison have?
MEET THE TEAM
EDITOR’S
MIKE
Madalyn
Michael
NATE
Tracy
Sarah
ALEXIS
NICK
Erika
Humility is a significant attribute to the upper-Midwest; it’s what the area is known for. But with the recent amount of success at NDSU, it can be easy to forget our humble roots. Yes, it has been a crazy year. Yes, NDSU fans have a lot to brag about. But there’s such a thing as a sorewinner. My hope is that what has transpired over the past few months can thankfully be remembered by Bison fans and future success is not expected, but welcomed. Thanks for letting Bison Illustrated enjoy this fun ride with you. Thank you for reading, see you next year and, as always, go Bison!
Go Bison,
Joe Kerlin
Brent
Andy
Andrew
Congratulations On a Season of
Pure Dominance! Proud to call ourselves Bison Faithful!
Joe
PAIGE
NICK
BOUGIE
CODEY
LISA
Aaron Greterman
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Dennis
Meagan
HEIDI
George
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Paul
Ben
PAUL
Scott
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FROM THE PUBLISHER
What a Year! Mike Dragosavich
Publisher, Bison Illustrated
W
hat a year to be a Bison. I can’t believe how many inspiring moments swept Bison Nation this year. From ESPN GameDay to March Madness and the finalization of the new BSA. And how about Frisco?! However, those are only the main highlights. So many other amazing things happened this year amongst the other sports and athletes, not to mention the academic side of our program. I don’t have enough paper on this page to list them all. Now, the key is how do we keep the momentum going? In my opinion it lays in the hands of people like you and I. We are the fans and the supporters. We need to keep donating our time, money and support to this program to help keep this progressive culture going.
Thanks This issue marks the end of the eighth season of Bison Illustrated. The next season of issues starts this August. I would like to thank everyone who has had an impact on helping us grow this publication.
Special thanks to my team at Spotlight Media, NDSU’s Sports Information Department, all advertisers and all of you out there in Bison Nation! 10
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Some of the people that I want to especially thank are the NDSU Athletic Department, Media Relations, Team Makers, the Alumni Association, President Bresciani, my team at Spotlight Media, our advertising supporters and our contributing writers and many others who devoted their time and hard work.
• • • •
More contributors for the magazines and website Hosted events More kid’s and family features Expand our mobile app
The first ever kid’s and family Bison Illustrated coming next month!
We put everything back into our magazines and with this amazing year of Bison Illustrated, next year is most definitely going to be bigger and better than ever!
We are proud to announce that we are launching a special issue of Bison Illustrated to cater to kids and families. It’s a great time of year to do this because of all the NDSUsponsored summer kids’ events that we can highlight and all the family information available. Look for it to hit stands in May.
Upcoming Goals
Go Bison
• State wide distribution • More subscriptions sent out across the nation • More “Where Are They Now?” stories
#oneherd,
Drago
Brent
Tehven
General Manager, Bison Illustrated
Thank You For Another Great Year I can’t believe it’s the end
of the season for us at Bison Illustrated. I know that spring sports are still far from over, but what a year it’s been for NDSU. Bison Illustrated is for you, the fans. We have tried to give you a behind the scenes look at NDSU Athletics and we hope we have accomplished that. This wouldn’t be possible without our great team. I would also like to thank all the coaches who are gracious enough to give us access into their programs. Also, a big thanks goes out to Gene Taylor and his staff. There’s a saying out there that “with great tradition comes an even greater responsibility” and Gene has embodied that statement. If you want to talk about leadership, he is the guy. He has taken this department to new heights that even the biggest Bison fans wouldn’t have thought possible, and Gene would be the first to tell you it wouldn’t be possible without his staff. It would be easy to label NDSU as a “Football School.” However, NDSU is so much more. Look at what Steven Monk and the wrestling program accomplished. For some people, just getting to the NCAA basketball tournament would be good enough, but what do Saul and the basketball program go and do? They blew people away by beating Oklahoma and almost getting to the Sweet 16. Since we are labeled as a football school, we might as well go out and win three championships in a row. From all of us at Bison Illustrated, enjoy the rest of the spring sports and your summer.
Until Next Time,
Brent
S W Severson, Wogsland & L & Liebl PC
ATTORNEYS AND COUNSELORS AT LAW
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MEN’S
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BASKETBALL
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REACHING BEYOND THE SUMMIT By Joe Kerlin
W
hen Taylor Braun, Mike Felt and Jordan Aaberg arrived at NDSU, the basketball program had just made history. The 2009 basketball team was the first Bison team to reach the NCAA tournament and were an impossible act to follow, especially with four of the five starters graduating. Suddenly, the Bison were young and in the middle of an identity crisis. Five years later, their identity was found and the green and gold became recognizable to any college basketball fan across the nation. This isn’t just a story about a basketball team that found reasonable success within the Midwest. This is a story about a group of young men, bonded together by one goal and one dream — making the NCAA tournament.
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MEN’S
BASKETBALL
THECLIMB
2009-10
Post-NCAA Tournament Record: 11-18 (8-10) Lost in Summit League Quarterfinals to Oral Roberts
T
he Bison men’s basketball team has come a long way in the last five years. From a mediocre band of freshmen to a powerhouse team that has learned the art of the game, check out their evolution over the years.
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Mike Felt, Taylor Braun and Jordan Aaberg were big time recruits that enrolled at NDSU in the fall of 2009. While Minnesota boys Felt and Aaberg made quick adjustments to the college game by playing as freshmen, Braun was red-shirted. Braun’s struggles during that first year have been well-documented, but at the time, no one thought his career would blossom the way it did.
2010-11 Rebuild
Record: 14-15 (8-10) Lost in Summit League Quarterfinals to Oral Roberts Marshall Bjorklund and TrayVonn Wright joined the Bison as the only true freshmen on the roster. Both proved their worth by playing over 15 minutes a game. Wright brought unfathomable athleticism to the roster while Bjorklund became the anchor in the post. Braun also saw his first action in a Bison uniform and quickly got every fan excited about what could be a great career.
2011-12
Stars on the Rise Record: 17-14 (9-9) Lost in Summit League Quarterfinals to Western Illinois With a season together under their belt, the 2014 senior class began to mesh. The Bison finished the season over .500 for the first time since winning the Summit League in 2009. Lawrence Alexander was introduced and was quickly slotted as the starting point guard from the first game of the season. Alexander finished the season second on the team in scoring, including numerous clutch jumpers.
2012-13
2013-14
One Step Away
A Team of Destiny
Record: 24-10 (12-4) Lost in Summit League Championship to South Dakota State
Record: 26-7 (12-2) Summit League Champions Lost in third round of NCAA Tournament to San Diego State
The Bison found their stride during the 2012-13 season. They solidified a starting lineup with the arrival of defensive stud Kory Brown. Braun emerged as a star before an injury slowed down the Bison momentum during conference play. Braun returned before the Summit League tournament, but it wasn’t enough. The Bison were one step away from the title and guaranteed next year’s result would be in their favor.
The Bison returned all five starters and eight of their top scorers from a season ago. The Bison rolled through conference play with a 12-2 record and winning the Summit League regular season title. But much, much more was in store...
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MEN’S
BASKETBALL
DENVER 83-48, WIN The semifinals of the Summit League playoffs weren’t anything
more than a regular shootaround for the Bison. Splitting the series with Denver in the regular season, the Bison, coming off a first round bye, left no doubt who the better team was from the opening tip. Taylor Braun’s layup with a second left in the first half gave the Bison a 27-point lead after the first 20 minutes. They didn’t look back from there. Mike Felt hit a three to give the Bison their largest lead of the night at 43 with six minutes to go as the Bison set the cruise control and coasted to a 83-48 victory in the Summit League semifinals.
IPFW 60-57, WIN After the Denver win, the Bison were one step away from a bid into
the NCAA Tournament. “I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again,” said head coach Saul Phillips. “This season has been like a storybook and it feels like the only way it ends right is with us cutting down the nets tomorrow.” And that’s exactly what they did as the Bison defeated IPFW for their first Summit League championship since 2009. The game was a hard fought battle until the very end, but it was a game the Bison knew they had to win. Carried by TrayVonn Wright and closed out with Taylor Braun, it was finally official — the Bison were headed back to the NCAA Tournament.
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The Bison shot
62.5% as a team.
Taylor Braun outscored the Pioneers in the first half with 18 points, shooting 6-of-6 from the field.
TrayVonn Wright led all scorers with 19.
First Summit League Championship since 2009
MEN’S
BASKETBALL
CELEBRATION
SUMMIT LEAGUE CHAMPS
Hundreds of eager and ecstatic Bison fans stormed the court shortly after the final horn. Taylor Braun was awarded the Tournament MVP and was joined by TrayVonn Wright and Marshall Bjorklund on the all-tournament first team. It was a celebration Saul Phillips and Braun prophesied about a year prior and now they were living out their dream.
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MEN’S
BASKETBALL
Lasting
IMPACT
Seniors are expected to carry on the culture of each Bison team from year to year. Marshall Bjorklund, Taylor Braun and Jordan Aaberg not only represented themselves with class through their college careers, their accomplishments on the court will leave a lasting impact at NDSU for many years to come.
Marshall
Taylor
Jordan
“This is going to definitely be the highlight of my entire life, and so I’m always going to look back at it and every time I come back here and look up and see our banner up there, it’s just going to be something that will stick with me forever.”
“We’re the best or second best class depending on how you look at it. I’m not hesitant to say that. We worked hard and accomplished a lot. I’m very proud of everybody on the team and what we accomplished.”
“This team is like an extension of my family. I’d do anything for any of these guys.”
Bjorklund
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Braun
Aaberg
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BASKETBALL
UNDERDOGS
SELECTION SHOW
“Out of the Summit League, the number 12 seed, the Bison of North Dakota State.” -Bryant Gumbel on the 2014 NCAA Basketball Championship Selection Show
Photos courtesy of Heidi Jaeger 24
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Five days after their celebration in Sioux Falls, S.D.,
the Bison returned to the BSA along with hundreds of fans for the Selection Show watch party. Laid back in comfortable couches, players and coaches waited intently for the Bison name to appear on a line. San Diego? Spokane? Orlando? Speculation filled the arena about where the Bison would land and where fans would be booking their flights. The first two regions were announced and still no word on where the automatic seed would land the Bison. The 1st, 16th, 8th and 9th seeds were selected in the West region, then the 5-12 match-up appeared. First, Oklahoma was announced then the Bison logo appeared, sending the team and its fans in a frenzy. The Bison were headed to Spokane, Wash., in a second round match-up against the Sooners of Oklahoma.
MEN’S
BASKETBALL
OKLAHOMA
80-75, WIN
Becoming America’s Darling In only its second NCAA Tournament game, the seniorladen Bison became an attractive upset pick in the second round. Lawrence Alexander took it upon himself to not let the bracketologist down, scoring a career-high 28 points in the Bison’s 80-75 overtime victory. The Bison controlled the game early and held the lead until late foul trouble allowed the Sooners to climb back and go up 66-63 with 17 seconds left. Just as they did in the waning seconds of the Summit League championship game versus IPFW, the Bison put the ball in the hands of its best scorer. Braun was isolated at the top of the key as precious seconds ticked off the clock. Braun spun down the lane
left, then pivoted right, but Oklahoma’s Isaiah Cousins was smothering the Summit League Player of the Year. Without hesitation, Braun kicked it out to the right wing, where junior point guard Alexander stood. With a hand in his face, Alexander launched a three that hung in the air for a lifetime. Buckets. The ball rattled through the hoop, sending the game into overtime. With 77 seconds left in overtime, Bison leading scorer Braun fouled out and in came a freshman from Milwaukee. Casual Bison fans may not have been aware of Carlin Dupree’s skill-set before the tourney, but that night they left the arena never forgetting what transpired next. Dupree instantly ignited the Bison offense with clutch free throws and acrobatic layups. The Bison pulled away as the clock dwindled down announcing to everyone in America that Cinderella had arrived wearing the green and gold.
Photo courtesy of Robert Johnson/ Icon Sports Media
Photo courtesy of Connor Dunn 27
MEN’S
BASKETBALL
Fulfilling LASTING
No matter what role TrayVonn Wright, Mike Felt and Fred Newell played,
each one of these players were just as important as the other men on the roster. Whether it’s knocking down big threes, throwing down epic slam dunks or helping the development of the younger players, these men won’t soon be forgotten.
IMPACT ROLES Marshall Fred
Taylor TrayVonn
“The biggest things were the meals. It was a little bit more fine dining than what we’re used to. They treated us really well, definitely. The hotel was really nice. The welcoming when we got there. The staff was very friendly. They had banners and balloons up. It was a different atmosphere than what we’re used to just walking into a hotel and find your rooms. It was really cool. It was really fun.”
“It definitely “We’re the best hit me or second when we best came class back depending Monday. Monday on howmorning you look when at it.I had to get I’mfor up notclass hesitant was ato drag. sayIthat. was We smiles but sad worked that I hadhard to leave and my accomplished guys behindabut at the lot. I’m same time, verywe proud cameoftogether, everybody we did what on the we needed teamtoand do and what wewe were successful at it. accomplished. When I sit back” and look at everything... I was like, ‘You know what, it was fun and I guess it’s just the next step in life we need to go on to.’”
Bjorklund Newell
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Braun Wright
Jordan Mike
Aaberg Felt “You have to stick with it. You can’t let failure get you down. You got to use that to lift you up and for motivation to get better. They (underclassmen) know the type of work we put in and dedication throughout the summer.”
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SAN DIEGO STATE
63-44, LOSS
The End of a Magical Journey America’s darling was the name thrown around the Internet and in casual conversation as the nation buzzed with excitement about the Bison. The two days that followed NDSU’s win over Oklahoma was arguably the most exposure Bison Athletics has ever received. From The New York Times to the Washington Post, America couldn’t get enough of Saul Phillips and his group of players that were “crashing the party.” San Diego State awaited the Bison in the third round and with a stifling defense, the Aztecs were going to be the toughest matchup for the Bison of the season. The Aztecs have been shocked by Cinderella before. Last year, they
Photo courtesy of Connor Dunn 30
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were defeated in the third round by Florida Gulf Coast, or more commonly known as “Dunk City.” Aztec head coach Steve Fisher had his group ready for Cinderella this season. The Bison shot the ball terribly, leading to their worst scoring total all season, 44. It was an emotional loss for Bison head coach Saul Phillips, whose passion infected his players, forming a bond that can only be created by a group of young men that were making a run of a lifetime in the NCAA tournament. The season had come to a close, but the memories of the 2014 Bison men’s basketball team will forever be the measuring stick for success for many years to come at NDSU.
Photo courtesy of Robert Johnson/ Icon Sports Media
MEN’S
BASKETBALL
The
FUTURE
Take a long look. This is the exciting group of players that will continue to carry
the torch of success for the Bison basketball program. With meaningful minutes already under their belt, Kory Brown, Carlin Dupree and Lawrence Alexander have played on the biggest stage, and are hungry to fight their way back.
Kory
Carlin
Lawrence
“For me personally, I definitely want to get back to the point where we have a chance to get back to that point where we have a chance to get to the Sweet 16.”
“Just to see a big stage like that, it makes you want to work even harder since you know what it takes to get there. It’ll push me and drive me more.”
“On the playground sometimes we joke around about it but sometimes when you know the shot is going in, you just yell something. Mine is just ‘Buckets.’”
Brown
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Dupree
Alexander
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On Top of
THEIR GAME
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The dynamic duo of Saul Philips and Gene Taylor has helped revitalize the men’s basketball program, brought a desperately needed new facility to Bison Athletics and set NDSU history by bringing the men’s basketball team to the NCAA Tournament and beyond. With so much behind them, the only question is what’s next?
Gene
Taylor,
Athletic Director
What kind of effort and time commitment have people within the NDSU Athletic Department put in this season? "You got to understand since August, everybody has been going non-stop. Whether it’s the marketing staff or the ticketing staff or the athletic training staff. Going from a football program that plays well into January, right into basketball, a highly visible basketball program, a wrestling program, I mean wrestlers in Oklahoma City, we had a group go to New Mexico for our women’s track program, the hours just don’t stop. We got right off the plane from Spokane and to my staff I said, 'Well, I guess we got a few weeks off.' And they said, 'No, we have spring football Saturday.' So the amount of hours these kids put in is phenomenal."
How has the national exposure helped NDSU? "You cannot put a price tag on that. I think it increases the amount of pride and increases the amount of people who want to get connected to our university, not just in athletics but the university in general. I’ve had so many stories all across the country. I just heard one this afternoon of a group
that was snow skiing in Montana and as soon as we won, they were up on top of a mountain, they took (off) their gear, they had Bison gear on. And took off their upper jackets, and people in the ski lifts were cheering. So things like that, you can’t put a price tag on it. And what it does is just really raises the level of pride in our institution and pride in our athletic program and reconnects with our alumni across the country."
Basketball wasn't the only successful team, wrestling had a nice run recently. "To finish 21st on a national stage with the best wrestling programs in the country, you know, it does get overshadowed and I hope people recognize how lucky we are to have that much success across all of our sports. We have a women’s 4x400 team that at one point was ranked 9th in the country, finished 11th from North Dakota State and you look at the teams they competed against, it’s Arkansas, UCLA, USC, Stanford. Those kind of things just don’t happen in a lot of places... The success we are having, I hope our fans recognize how fortunate we are and I think they do."
Saul
Phillips,
Head Coach
Talk about your six seniors. "I don’t know how any coach could ask any more out of a class. Not only on the court, obviously by achieving all their goals and working hard to make it happen, but off the court as well just as people in the community. I get a lot of comments from professors, from neighbors, to just people in Fargo that randomly come up and tell me unique stories about one of my seniors. That’s pretty gratifying as a coach."
What was your favorite moment from the tournament? "LA (Lawrence Alexander) hollering ‘buckets’ as he was falling on his backside to send the game into overtime or Carlin Dupree deciding it was his time to get some things done, playing the loudest two minutes of basketball in the history of the NCAA tournament… One of the reasons we
put him in there was to A: break the press, and B: because the guy is fearless. I knew the moment wouldn’t be too big for him."
How would you explain the Bison culture to a newcomer or outsider? "Just pop in a DVD of the past few weeks and pick your moment. Listen, for two days we were bonafide rockstars across America. And you can do that from right here in Fargo, N.D. That’s a pretty cool thing. And the other thing is, I would just have them walk around the athletic department with me and just have them talk to the people that work here. It’s a great place to be. My boss is someone I will consider my friend for the rest of my life, and that’s a pretty good place to be."
You can check out Saul and Gene’s full interview at BisonIllustrated.com 35
KRISTA MENKE
Krista Menke’s
Art of Rotation
IS Turning heads and freezing batters with an arsenal of pitches By Joe Kerlin Photos by J. Alan Paul Photography
T
he pitching mound has been home to Krista Menke since she was eight. Before coming to NDSU, her dad and a couple YouTube tutorials were the only coaches she had. Now, the junior is the Bison’s bullpen primary weapon. In 2012 Menke was named Summit League Pitcher of the Year and first team all-Summit League. We caught up with Menke on the mound to talk about what it is like being one of the top pitchers in the Summit League after coming from a town of 1,000 people. We even found out what a “booger-flicker” pitch is.
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B I S O N I L L U S T R A T E D •A P R I L 2 014
BIO
Position Pitcher
Year
Junior
Hometown
Friend, Nebraska
QUICK HITS »» 2012 Summit League Pitcher of the Year »» 2012 Summit League Freshman of the year »» After 2013 season she is No. 5 on NDSU’s career chart for strikeouts (385)
37
KRISTA MENKE
Q&A BI kM
BI kM
BI kM BI
kM
38
WITH Krista menke
pitching. Having a pitching coach is what brought me to NDSU, it was a big asset for me coming here because I wanted to get better. I knew I hadn’t reached my potential yet.”
How did you first get into pitching? “I was about eight years old and my dad was like, ‘Either you step up and pitch or we won’t have a softball team.’ So I stepped up and pitched and that’s how I got into it.”
When did you start taking it seriously? “We didn’t have a high school team until my freshman year, so basically my class was one of the first classes to start the program. We had six freshmen and we only had 10 people on the team, so the first year was definitely interesting and rough because we didn’t really know what we were doing. ... And then my junior year we ended up coming back and winning state and I feel like we proved to everybody that you can make something and start it on your own and do great things with it.”
BI
kM
BI kM
How small is your hometown? “A town of 1,000 people and only graduated 28.”
Was their something that you have drastically changed since coming to college in regards to pitching? “I never had a pitching coach until I got here. So I was always with my dad and going on YouTube and stuff. We tried out a lot of different things. Looking back, you’re like, ‘Why was I doing this?’ And realizing all the things that go into B I S O N I L L U S T R A T E D • A P R I L 2 014
BI
kM
YouTube? There must have been a lot of trial and error. “Yes, definitely. There were times where the pitches would end up over the backstop and you’d be like, ‘Well that didn’t work’ (laugh).”
Any goofy pitches you have tried from the Internet? “There’s a pitch called the ‘booger flicker.’ It was on the Internet and it was a mixture between a rise ball and a I don’t even know what. (laughs) Basically, you snap your finger like you’re flicking something off your finger and we tried it for quite awhile and I was like, ‘Dad, this isn’t working out. We need to move on.’ So now my go-to pitches are my curveball and screwball.”
What was something your first pitching coach worked on with you the most? “She knew I never had a pitching coach so she said, ‘I know this is going to be repetitive, but snaps is a big part of your pitching mechanics.’ So I was like, ‘Are you kidding me? I have to stand here and snap with my finger?’ Because your fingers are the most important part of the pitch, having movement with your pitch comes from your fingers.”
BI
Last year, you didn’t have a pitching coach. How did that go?
kM
“Last year was a struggle for me a little bit because Darren (Mueller), he was a pitching coach, but then he took over the role again and became both the pitching and hitting coach, so his roles are kind of mixed up. But now this year we have Brynne Dordel. She’s taught me a lot already.”
BI
What was it like being on a great staff consisting of you and Whitney Johnson?
kM
“When I was being recruited, Brittney (Weil, old softball coach) was like, ‘You and Whitney are exactly the same and you guys are going to get along so well.’ So we thought, ‘Well everyone thinks we’re going to be best friends’ and then we literally became best friends. We always had each other’s backs. If you do bad one game, I’m going to come in and help out and if I do bad you’re going to have my back and come in and do amazing. We were really compatible with each other.”
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20140217 Bison Illustrated.indd 1
2/18/14 4:51 PM
KYLE KLEINENDORST
KYLE KleinendorsT’S
Explosive Talent IS propelling BISON BASEBALL TO THE TOP OF THE SUMMIT LEAGUE
By Joe Kerlin Photos by J. Alan Paul Photography
B
y having a father that played in the NHL for eight seasons and being a multi-sport athlete in high school, Kyle Kleinendorst wasn't always sold on playing baseball. But for head coach Tod Brown, he's sure glad Kleinendorst chose the spikes over the skates and the diamond over the pond. Kleinendorst has developed into a heart-of-the-program athlete during his tenure at NDSU. His hard work showed during his junior season when he improved his batting average by 112 points. We caught up with Kleinendorst at the batting cage to see how he is getting himself ready for his final season in the Bison pinstripes.
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B I S O N I L L U S T R A T E D •A P R I L 2 014
BIO Position
Catcher/Outfielder/First Base
Year
Senior
Hometown
Grand Rapids, Minnesota
QUICK HITS »» First team all-Summit League »» Two-time all-Summit League Tournament team »» Led team with a .333 batting average last season »» Over 100 career hits
41
KYLE KLEINENDORST
Q&A BI kK
BI kK
“It was more about the knowledge of my ability, I guess. I knew it probably wasn’t going to work out in the other sports and my skills lied in baseball and I just wanted to set my own footsteps in baseball.”
Did your dad have anything to do with the decision? “No, he was supportive of whatever I chose and he knows how bad hockey beat him up and he knew baseball was the opposite. So he was fine with everything.”
Were you and John Skrbec a packaged deal coming from the same hometown?
kK
“(Laughs) No, he signed before I did. He didn’t have any influence on my decision, but it is pretty cool that we ended up in the same place.”
kK
You got to know you’re doing your job and some of the pressure is on the older guys because we got some really good young guys with their foot in the door, ready to get the call.”
Why did you choose to play baseball instead of hockey?
BI
BI
42
WITH KleinendorsT
What's it mean to have the bulk of the batting order back this year? “I guess it’s just full. We have all played with each other before, we have power guys, we have small ball guys and it just brings us together. Every guy has the ability to do something great during any point of any game, that’s a nice thing to have when planning on competing for a conference championship.”
BI
Does all the competition with the team get tough day after day?
kK
“I would say yeah, but we’re all here to compete, so with that in mind you can’t let it get taxing on you.
B I S O N I L L U S T R A T E D • A P R I L 2 014
BI kK
BI
kK
BI kK
Sounds like Coach Tod Brown doesn't believe in senior seniority. “There’s no favoritism, definitely. I know a lot of guys who have been here as a senior, but they didn’t get the call to start opening weekend. He is going to put the best nine guys on the field and everyone is accepting of that.”
You have a 16-month-old boy named Jaxon, what's that responsibility like being a college athlete? “Well, I’m getting a lot of help from my girlfriend, my girlfriend’s family. They’re willing to help at any point knowing that this is my last season and it means a lot to me. They care about me as much as I care about them. Juggling my time isn’t as hard as what people would do if they were on their own.”
Does he ever drop by at practice? “He comes by after practice about once a week. I don’t know how many road trips he’ll make, but maybe we’ll see him in Florida.”
“
Every guy has the ability to do something great during any point of any game, that’s a nice thing to have when planning on competing for a conference championship.” - Kyle Kleinendorst
MAKING HISTORY
HISTORY 44
B I S O N I L L U S T R A T E D •A P R I L 2 014
IN THE MAKING By Joe Kerlin | Photos by J. Alan Paul Photography
Buried in the success of the football and basketball teams are NDSU programs that have struggled to find their footing amongst Division I competition. The baseball team is a prime example. But now with more experience than ever, the baseball team is ready to make history.
45
MAKING HISTORY
Wes Satzinger
Satzinger’s .307 batting average last season earned him first team all-Summit League second baseman honors for the second year in a row. He finished 2013 with five homeruns, 32 RBI and a .487 slugging percentage.
Photo courtesy of Jim Tremin
The Bison
made the Summit League tournament in 2011 and 2012, but last season it took incredible late-season heroics for the Bison to find themselves in a third-straight conference tournament. During the last series of the regular season against Indiana Purdue Fort Wayne, the Bison needed two wins to clinch a tournamentberth. It was a memorable Saturday as the Bison walked-off with two victories and their ticket punched into the tournament. The Bison were the hottest team going into the tournament, but were finally cooled off when South Dakota State defeated them twice in the championship series.
BASEBALL
The hunt for four straight N o other sport values its history more than baseball. From hits to strikeout records, rewriting the history book is always a ceremony for fans of America’s great pastime. Speaking of records, NDSU has a shot to break one of its own baseball records this season. Never before in the history of NDSU baseball has a class gone through their fouryear career making the conference tournament every season. With three appearances down, this year’s class is one fantastic season away from leaving a profound mark on the baseball program. 46
B I S O N I L L U S T R A T E D • A P R I L 2 014
The 2014 Bison aren’t just looking to make it back to the conference tournament this season. They are looking to win it all, which will be another first for the baseball program. Last year the Bison hardly sniffed the tournament with young bats in the lineup and two aces atop their rotation in John Straka and David Ernst. Senior secondbaseman Wes Satzinger believes, unlike last year, the 2014 Bison will be more balanced. “This year the consistency will come around,” said Satzinger. Playing in the championship the past two seasons, Satzinger senses something different about the 2014 ball club. “We’re the only team that has been there twice over the past two years. In the end, I think just a little bit of the extra edge and everyone has a chip on their shoulder.” Head Coach Tod Brown agrees with Satzinger, saying with the amount of losses last year’s roster had to overcome from 2012, it was really an attest to the resilience of his players. “It really came down to their hard work and dedication, and they needed more experience,” Coach Brown said. “Throughout the year they got more experience and really cashed it in predominately.” Unlike the impactful roster changes in 2013, the 2014
Bison return eight of their nine starters from last year’s conference championship lineup. One of those eight is first basemen Kyle Kleinendorst. The senior from Grand Rapids, Minn., knows it’s his last opportunity to complete his goal of making the NCAA Tournament, which will happen if the Bison can win their first Summit League title. Kleinendorst was a first team all-Summit League outfielder last year and remembers the shock of defeat over the last two championships. “We know the feeling that we have had for the past two seasons can’t happen again for a third time in a row.” Satzinger and Kleinendorst are more than capable of leading the Bison to their fourthstraight Summit League tournament, but that piece of history won’t satisfy the seniors alone. They want the title and are ready to grind harder than any other team in the conference to be the only one remaining atop the Summit.
Tod Brown is in his seventh season as head coach of the baseball team. He led the baseball program to its first 40-win season in 2012.
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WE’RE READY
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Amanda
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Amanda Grable Grable was first team all-Summit League in 2012, second team all-Summit League in 2013. She finished last season with a .273 batting average and laced 10 homeruns.
For the first time
in Summit League tournament history, the Bison were eliminated from the tournament. Behind the heroic pitching performances from Miranda Kramer, Indiana Purdue Fort Wayne defeated the Bison and stole the Summit League title from Fargo. It was a reality check for the Bison, who are focused and obsessed about regaining the throne.
Softball
Ruling the summit league T he Bison softball team has reigned over the Summit League throne since joining its first ever Division I conference. The Bison joined the Summit League in 2008 and have finished first in the regular season every year, even when they were ineligible for postseason play during their first year in the league. Did someone say postseason play? The Bison are excellent in those high-pressure games too, placing four Summit League championships under their belt. The reign over the League has been enjoyable, but last year, a team finally knocked the Bison from the top of the mountain.
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B I S O N I L L U S T R A T E D • A P R I L 2 014
Looking back at last year’s roster, one aspect of the team overshadowed the rest – its youth. Alyssa Reina, Cheyenne Garcia, Logan Moreland and Maritza Lopez-Portillo were all true freshman last season, and they were all in the lineup the day IPFW dethroned the Bison. “We were young. We just didn’t win because we didn’t execute and that’s the main thing,” explains senior catcher Jenina Ortega. She continued to explain the Bison weren’t on their game last season and that more than the youth or anything else, is why the Bison fell.
battle on the field. “That’s the lieutenant sergeant captain. She leads the ship.” Mueller and Trachsel have the Bison off to another great start this season, defeating prestigious institutions like Notre Dame and Stanford. “We’re definitely ready,” Ortega stated simply. “There’s a different mindset and everybody is on the same page so now we’re ready to win the championship.” With another month left in the season, the Bison look poised to raise their fifth Summit League championship in six years and is ready to regain its throne.
This season, all four freshmen are back in the lineup and hungry for another shot at the title. The Summit League Tournament isn’t until the first week in May, so for now, Ortega says they are preparing to play their best softball when the postseason comes around. “If you’re worried about one team, you lose sight of the process. We’re just making sure we are getting better every weekend, and come May we must have our best foot forward.” The Bison are led by two coaches, Darren Mueller and Jamie Trachsel, who are known for having their players prepared for the big stage. While Mueller focuses the Bison at the plate and making sure the lineup is set, Ortega says there is no question Trachsel is responsible for getting the players ready mentally for
Darren Mueller has been the head coach for the softball team since 2002. He currently has an all-time record of 439-250 and has seven conference titles.
ROAD WARRIORS
ROAD
WARRIORS If you thought your commute was tough...
Palo Alto, CA
1,444 Miles
SOFTBALL Total Miles: 9,424 Round Trip Miles: 18,848
Los Angeles, CA
1,428 Miles
BASEBALL
Albuquerque, NM
961 Miles
Total Miles: 7,190 Round Trip Miles: 14,380
WES SATZINGER, SENIOR
AMANDA GRABLE, JUNIOR
“I think it’s something not a lot of people get to experience, and it’s fun being with all the guys. If you have a good weekend, the bus trip back is awesome. But then again, if you don’t have a good weekend, they get a little long. It’s basically just guys moving around seat to seat, here and there, and guys find funny little games to play and guys have magic tricks and stuff to keep them busy. Everyone has their own little thing. My roommate and I will play Gameboy, whatever takes your mind off the road.”
“I really enjoy seeing different facilities. I have seen four SEC football fields already, and Missouri will be added here eventually. I have been to 30 something states and 20 of them are from softball. It’s actually a lot of fun.”
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B I S O N I L L U S T R A T E D • A P R I L 2 014
BASEBALL Road Destination
FARGO, ND
SOFTBALL Road Destination SHARED Road Destination
NEWMAN OUTDOOR FIELD
Grand Forks, ND
73 Miles
Fargo, ND
Home
Minneapolis, MN
207 Miles
Brookings, SD
177 Miles
Vermillion, SD
275 Miles Omaha, NE
703 Miles
595 Miles Greeley, CO
595 Miles
Fort Wayne, IN
Macomb, IL
703 Miles Champaign, IL
633 Miles
Columbia, MO
Indianapolis, IN
593 Miles
721 Miles
Cape Girardeau, MO
758 Miles
Murray, KT
1,428 Miles
Auburn, AL
1,153 Miles Tallahassee, FL
1,317 Miles Houston, TX
1,185 Miles
Winter Haven, FL
1,539 Miles
53
WOMEN’S 4x400
GOING THE
distance.
WHAT DO YOU GET...
when you add together two sprinters, a multi-event athlete and a mid-distance runner? One of the best relay teams NDSU has ever seen. Morgan Milbrath, Ashley Tingelstad, Ashley Heinze and Paige Stratioti (left to right) broke NDSU’s 4x400 relay record three times in the span of 21 days, shaving 6.55 seconds off their original mark. The quartet qualified for the 2014 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships in Albuquerque, N.M. with their time of 3:34.57 earning them a nine out of twelve ranking. We were finally able to slow these four ladies down for a quick moment to find out what it takes to become the first relay team in Bison history to qualify for Nationals. By Madalyn Laske Photos By J. Alan Paul Photography 55
WOMEN’S 4x400
first leg. MORGAN
MILBRATH
Freshman | Minot, N.D. | Sprints
Why’d you chose to stay close to home?
“I made my decision based on a lot of things. My family talked about (it) and this ended up being the right fit for me. This is probably one of the biggest schools close to my home.”
Do you see your family often?
“Yeah, they come to every meet they can get to, even if it’s not in Fargo.”
As a freshman what were your expectations coming into this year?
“I was afraid of training all year and running versus in high school I played three sports. I was nervous to fit in to the team, to be a part of the team, but even after a week here I wasn’t afraid about anything. These girls are great and I feel right at home.”
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B I S O N I L L U S T R A T E D •A P R I L 2 014
What has helped that transition?
“The way the older girls have accepted us and pulled us all together and supported everything we do has honestly made all of our freshman experiences wonderful. Each day at practice we’re serious, but at the same time we get along with each other.”
Do you think the chemistry is coming from the coaches or coming from the girls they bring in?
“I think it’s both. It’s the coaching staff in how we do our training. But at the same time it’s the way the girls interact with each other the way we push each other every day at practice to get better, but also the fact that we are friends on and off the track.”
How long have you been a member of the relay team? “The first two meets I wasn’t on the team, but we went to the University of Minnesota (and) since then I’ve been on the relay team.”
Have you had your ‘Wow’ moment yet? “Every time I try to think about the fact that we’re ninth and we’re going to nationals. It’s so above something I could ever imagine being able to happen that I don’t even know how to feel about it.”
second leg. ASHLEY
TINGELSTAD Senior | East Grand Forks, Minn. | Sprints
Coming into this year, did it hit you that this would be your last? “Absolutely, from the very first meet we had. Especially since I’ve been doing this since I was in 7th grade. It’s weird to think it will come to an end soon, and this year flew by.”
but it wasn’t like this. There wasn’t really any big pressure like Morgan (Milbrath) has now. A lot of freshman don’t get put through that.”
So does chemistry factor in as to where you like to receive the baton from Morgan?
“It definitely does, yeah. We do handoff (drills) every Monday. Handoffs are definitely big when you are coming neck and neck with somebody.”
When everything is said and done, how do you want to leave your mark here?
“Yeah, you only got one more chance.”
“My hard work and dedication. Coming from a small town, you never expect to make it to nationals. I mean that’s kind of for all of us, we’re all from pretty small towns. It’s something to remember.”
What do you do to help prepare the freshman?
What makes this program the best in the Summit league?
Has it been motivating you?
“Nerves are such a huge thing, even now. I’ve been doing this for five years in college and your nerves don’t ever really settle down but you just kind of have to act calm. If you see somebody acting nervous you just have to go up to them and say you know, ‘You’re here for a reason’ and that usually helps.”
“Our coaches, their dedication. The girls they bring in, they want to work hard and keep the tradition alive.”
What did the seniors and juniors say to you?
“It was kind of the same thing. It wasn’t really how it is now. I mean we were good,
57
WOMEN’S 4x400
third leg. ASHLEY
HEINZE
Junior | Moorhead, Minn Multi Event
Was choosing to stay local a big thing after college?
“Yeah, I’m a home body. I mean I go home at least once a week to see my parents and my grandparents are still up here. So I’m really close to them so it’s kind of fun and I just have a lot of family around here.”
So you’re competing in every event possible. Are you considering throwing javelin in the future? “I am once we get outdoors, I throw javelin.”
That was a joke! I didn’t know you actually threw javelin.
“I do (laughs). When we get outdoors we add that and the 200.”
What’s that like to participate in so many different events?
“It’s fun, it’s crazy. I never would have guessed. Literally I was messing around one day... I was just running around and the high jump mats were out and so I went and just jumped over the bar. I did high jump a little bit in high school but I just tried to make the bar and my coach is like, ‘Ashley, can you jump that again?’ And I jumped it and he’s like ‘The multi at conference? You’ll be in it.’”
What was that like learning all those events so quickly?
“I had never thrown shot put or done long jump so it was fun. I feel like (my coach) had the confidence in me. I mean literally it was like, ‘Hey Ash, this is how you long jump, try it out. OK good, let’s throw shot.’ It’s been fun to learn everything.”
Everyone is in good shape, but are you training differently since you are in multiple events?
“Yeah, I don’t train at all with (the relay team) actually. Multis kind of have their own (training) — jump a day, run a day, throw a day. So it’s kind of cool, I mean I feel I’m pretty privileged to get to run with them because they specialize in that.”
What does going to Nationals this year mean to you?
“This is huge. I’m grinning from ear to ear all the time. And the fact that we’re the first relay team (to go), that’s huge.”
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anchor. PAIGE
STRATIOTI
Junior | Duluth, Minn. Middle Distance
What is it about your coach Ryun Godfrey that everyone likes?
“He’s very personable and very relaxed. Especially I think for women, it is very important to have patience and you kind of find yourself in a therapist position as well as a coach. He’s very laid back and I think that’s very important. You don’t find that in a lot of coaches.”
How important is the chemistry in your relay team?
“It’s a huge part. When you practice with these people every day and you see how hard they work coming in every single day, especially when you are in a race you just feed off of it. Being an anchor I watch Morgan (Milbrath), and then Ashley (Heinze) and Ashley (Tingelstad) and it’s like you almost feel shaky once you get the baton because it’s such great chemistry. And then when you’re successful obviously it’s like all the hard work that everybody puts in just pays off and that’s what’s so big about a relay.”
What’s that like to anchor?
“It’s tough to put into words. I like it and I always get really nervous for it because I feel like all the pressure is on me. But every race we’ve had, they’ve taken all the pressure off me because they run so well. They make me excited to anchor for them.”
Can you explain the benefits of all of you being so dynamic?
“We got a multi in Ashley (Heinze), Morgan and Ashley are sprinters, I’m kind of 400 and 800. Ashely (Tingelstad) and I are very similar because we kind of meet at 400. But I think that makes us super unique and when you get on the line, especially this next weekend at NCAAs, everybody is just as fit as you. It’s kind of the mentality. How bad do you want it? And I think that’s really cool, especially about our relay because who would have ever thought that four Midwest girls from Minnesota and North Dakota would make it this far and I think that’s what makes it special. Small town girls with big hearts. Cheesy.”
Was running at Nationals a part of the goal this season?
“If the season ended right now I’d be happy with everything. So it’s kind of just the cherry on top of everything but obviously we’d like to break a school record again. All the times are really close so I think it will be a really, really good race.”
59
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TOP10
2014
YEAR BISON OF THE
By Joe Kerlin and Madalyn Laske Photo by J. Alan Paul Photography
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I T SEEMS LIKE IT WAS JUST YESTERDAY... a countless number of Bison fans were packing their vehicles for the season’s first road trip to Manhattan, Kan. With the new August Bison Illustrated in hand, Bison supporters flooded the gates of Bill Snyder Family Stadium in a mob drenched in sweat and hope, cheering their 2013 Team of Destiny on to its paramount FBS victory. Starting the year on the highest of highs can lead an athletic program to a downward spiral for the rest of the year, but not the Bison. The momentum snowballed itself into more and more exposure for the state university located in the booming city of Fargo. Before any of us knew it, #NDSU became synonymous with victory. And all of a sudden, the forgettable NDSU logo was slowly engraved in minds of sports fans across the nation. The Bison logo appeared on ESPN, ESPN 2 and 3, even making its way to Fox Sports. The logo and hashtag continued its journey into March Madness while making stops at the Wrestling National Championships as well as the NCAA National Indoor Track and Field Championships. The logo has become inescapable to any NCAA sports follower. Here are the top moments of this season and the events that have helped propel NDSU down the bountiful road of success.
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TOP10
WILDCAT SURPRISE GREGORY RICK President
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Season Opening Football Game
Where
Bill Snyder Family Stadium Manhattan, Kan.
When
August 30 (pictured here)
fter the legendary A drive spanning 18 plays and 80 yards in 8
minutes and 58 seconds, Brock Jensen plunged into the endzone to score the game winning 24-21 touchdown for the Bison. FACTS Kansas State paid NDSU $350,000 to come into its home stadium and give the defending Big 12 champion its home opening loss. The Bison have defeated an FBS team each of the last four seasons including Kansas, Minnesota and Colorado State.
Grant Olson @G34Olson . Aug 30 Nothing quite like those pregame nerves to make you feel alive! Going to be a fun one tonight folks
"That was the gutsiest performance that I have seen in my entire life on any level. I am so proud of my team and I just thank God for letting me be a part of this.� - Quarterback, Brock Jensen
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“This is the 32nd state we have gone to and I have never seen this much interest in a GameDay appearance.” - Host, Chris Fowler
WELCOMING GAMEDAY
Who
Bison Football Team and ESPN’s College GameDay
What
ESPN’S College GameDay live from downtown Fargo
Where
Downtown Fargo, N.D.
When
Sept. 21
(pictured here)
ollege GameDay C made its way to downtown Fargo to add to the Bison epidemic. Here Chris Fowler salutes his new favorite GameDay location. FACTS Kirk Herbstreit gave NDSU his Herbie award for the Best College GameDay site.
Marcus Williams#1 @TheRealMarcWill . Sept 14 Haha that’s crazy @CollegeGameDay at NDSU... Yes dream come true!!
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GameDay has only shown up on three non-FBS campuses in the past prior to NDSU: Florida A&M in 2008 and Penn in 2002, and Division III Williams in 2007.
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TOP10
“Every athletic venue will be top notch. Even the track facility is an envious thing for a lot of schools.” - Head Architect, Terry Stroh
SHAC’ING THINGS UP
Who
NDSU Athletic Program
What
North Dakota State legislature’s final approval for BSA renovation
Where
Fargo, N.D.
When
Dec. 11
(pictured here)
he new facility T will hold a 5,945 capacity for basketball
games, an elite weight room, a revamped Hall of Fame and new locker rooms. Athletes and fans will never want to leave. FACTS When it’s all said and done, $41 million of donations will have been used to remodel the BSA into the SHAC. The Bison Sports Arena was built in 1970. There has been one renovation. This new building will take NDSU Athletics to the next level recruitingwise, training-wise and playing-wise.
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Ben Woodside @benwoodside . Mar 1
Good luck NDSU mens hoop squad. Senior night, last game in the BSA, gonna be a great night! #winning
TOP10
BUH-BYE BOHL
Who
“I also want to thank our administration, Gene Taylor and President Bresciani for the support through the years and really providing us resources to be successful, so I want to say thanks to them.” - Head Coach Craig Bohl
Football Head Coach Craig Bohl
What
Coaches his last game from the Bison sideline
Where
Frisco, Texas
When Jan. 4
(pictured here)
ohl raises his B third national championship trophy as NDSU’s head coach in Frisco, Texas. With that win, he has gone down in NDSU history as one of the greatest coaches.
FACTS When signing with Wyoming, Bohl agreed to be paid a base salary of $750,000 a year at the start, with the opportunity to earn up to $1.2 million with incentives. Bohl brought the NDSU football team from a good Division II football program to an elite Division I dynasty tallying; three consecutive FCS national championships.
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Tyler Gimmestad @Tgimmie . Dec 8 “We pump blood, not kool-aid” I can’t wait to get back to work tomorrow and glad coach Bohl will finish the season with us. #FinishStronger
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TOP10
“This year we had a goal that we wanted to go undefeated. ... our main goal was to not lose a football game, period, and that’s what we did. It’s a pleasure to be a part of this.” - Quarterback, Brock Jensen
THIRD TIME’S THE CHARM
Who
Bison Football Team
What
FCS National Championship
Where
Frisco, Texas
When Jan. 4
(pictured here)
like half Idowntofseemed Fargo traveled to Frisco, Texas
to cheer the Bison onto their third straight FCS Championship. It was a weekend to remember for any fan.
FACTS It was the second time in FCS history that a team had pulled off the “three-peat.” Appalachian State was the first to accomplish the feat in 2007.
Marcus Williams#1 @TheRealMarcWill . Jan 1 Feels good being back home. #Frisco #BisoNation
The 2014 Championship is the 11th national championship the Bison have won in the program’s history.
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7-STRAIGHT SUMMIT LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Who
Bison Women’s Track and Field Team
What
Summit League Indoor Team Championships
Where
IPFW Athletics Center Fieldhouse
When
March 1 NDSU Track & Field @NDSUTrackField . Mar 1 7 straight indoor championships for the Bison women. 13 straight team titles overall. The dynasty rolls on.
(pictured here)
he Women’s Track T and Field team were crowned champs once again this year adding to their everexpanding trophy case. FACTS Since joining The Summit League for the 07-08 season, the Bison have never walked away from the conference meet without a firstplace trophy.
“The girls they (coaches) bring in, they want to work hard and keep the tradition alive.” - Sprinter, Ashley Tingelstad
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Women’s Track and Field holds the longestrunning championship dynasty in NDSU Athletics.
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TOP10
“There are so many aspects that helped me. The coaching staff for one giving me the opportunity and then two picking me up every time I was down, and telling me I’m capable of doing great things. Teammates pushing me and I pushed myself hard because I have high standards for myself.” - Guard, Taylor Braun
TAYLOR BRAUN PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Who
Bison Basketball player Taylor Braun
What
Summit League Player of the Year
Where
Sioux Falls, S.D.
When
March 6
(pictured here)
aylor Braun lays T a shot up against IPFW in the Summit
League championship game. Braun finished with 15 points, 12 coming in the second half. He had the same domination throughout the season. FACTS Taylor Braun was the second men’s basketball player in school history to win the award. First was Ben Woodside in 2009.
SummitHoops @summithoops . Mar 6 And, the #SummitMBB Player of the Year is North Dakota State’s Taylor Braun.
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Taylor Braun received no other Division I scholarship offers. Their loss.
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. . . I did! . . . He didn’t!
TOP10
“Who would have ever thought that four Midwest girls from Minnesota and North Dakota would make it this far and I think that’s what makes it special.” - Mid-distance, Paige Stratioti
NEED 4 SPEED
Who
4x400 Women’s Indoor Track Team - Morgan Milbrath, Ashley Tingelstad, Ashley Heinze and Paige Stratioti
What
Placed 11th in the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships
Where
Albuquerque, N.M.
When
March 15 (pictured here)
shley Tingelstad A runs the second leg of the women’s 4 X 400 meter relay during the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships.
FACTS The relay team ran a 3:36.07, which was their second fastest time. Earlier in the season, they broke the school record running a 3:34.57.
Ashley Tingelstad @ash_tingelstad . Mar 17 To put this in perspective..What our relay did by going to nationals would be equivalent to the men’s bball team making it to the ELITE 8.
This was the first time in NDSU history an indoor or outdoor relay team advanced to the NCAA Championships.
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“We’ve got a special group, we’ve been through a lot together. This has been an incredibly hard journey for us.” - Guard, Taylor Braun
Lawrence Alexander @LANo_Ny . Mar 11 We going dancing baby! #Champs
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DANCING!
Who
Bison Men’s Basketball Team
What
Guarantees a spot in the NCAA Basketball Tournament
Where
Spokane, Wash.
When
March 20
(pictured here)
aul Phillips S celebrates cutting the net down after
the Summit League Championship game. The Bison defeated IPFW to advance to the NCAA tournament. FACTS North Dakota State made its second NCAA tournament and its fourth postseason appearance as a Division I program. The No. 12 seed in the NCAA tournament for NDSU is the highest for a Summit League team since 1997 and ties for the second-highest seed ever for a league team.
TOP10
“It’s hard to put into words. It has been a great experience and it has been fun and I’m glad I came to NDSU to wrestle.” - 165 Pounds, Steven Monk
MONK MANIA
Who
Steven Monk - 165
What
2014 NCAA Wrestling Championships
Where
Oklahoma City, Okla.
When
March 22 (pictured here)
he third time was T the charm for Monk who competed in his third NCAA Championships in three years. FACTS NDSU topped the Western Wrestling Conference with eight all-conference honors.
Ryan Smith @ryguy_4 . Mar 12 Congrats to Steven Monk! Hell of a year! 3rd place is an amazing accomplishment! #BisoNation
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They also won the team title, including individual championship from Steven Monk (165), Hayden Zillmer (174) and Evan Knutson (285).
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HECKENDORF WAY ONCE A
Bison Bison ALWAYS A
THE
e n k d c e or f H WAY
FIGHTING A BATTLE AND PERSEVERING ON THE FIELD IS JUST A PART OF GROWING UP A HECKENDORF. KOLE HECKENDORF HAD A RECORD-SETTING FOUR YEARS AS A BISON RECEIVER, AND HE WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO TRY OUT FOR MULTIPLE NFL TEAMS. KOLE HAILS FROM A FAMILY OF COLLEGIATE ATHLETES. YOU COULD EVEN SAY IT RUNS IN THEIR BLOOD. THE YOUNGEST HECKENDORF BOY, BRYCE, KOLE’S NEPHEW, IS FIGHTING A DIFFERENT BATTLE ALL ON HIS OWN. By Sarah Tyre
84
M
Photos courtesy of the Heckendorf family
B I S O N I L L U S T R A T E D • A P R I L 2 014
eet Bryce. His parents are Kyle and Jenna Heckendorf, and his uncle is Kole. Like any 7-month-old, Bryce falls asleep in his parents’ arms and loves to be read his favorite book, “Commotion in the Ocean.” His favorite page is filled with sharks. Unlike most newborns, Bryce has been diagnosed with Krabbe disease. Krabbe disease (also known as globoid cell leukodystrophy) affects the nervous system. The symptoms of Krabbe disease usually appear in infants under the age of one. Symptoms typically include irritability, muscle weakness, feeding difficulties, episodes of fever without any sign of infection, stiff posture and slowed mental and physical development. As the disease progresses, muscles continue to weaken, affecting the infant’s ability to move, chew, swallow and breathe. Affected infants also experience vision loss and seizures.
THE
There is no denying Bryce’s strength. He is used to being poked and prodded. Bryce has endured more challenges than most of us will face in our entire lives. “I think that’s one thing that I’ve admired most about Kyle, Jenna and Bryce,” Keith Heckendorf (Kyle and Kole’s brother) said. “Just fighting through not only everyday things, but the fight for Bryce’s future. And I think that no matter what those boys have accomplished on the athletic field, I think they all tip their hats to the fight that Bryce is experiencing every day.” Due to the rarity of Krabbe disease, Kyle and Jenna recently made a trip to a specialist in Pittsburgh Pa., to visit Dr. Maria Escolar. She is the only Krabbe specialist in the nation. The ability to visit with a specialist came as a huge relief for the Heckendorfs, even if it meant flying across the country with their 7-month old. The visit will allow them to get a feel for where Bryce is at and regulate the medications he needs. “There’s not a lot of information out there about it,” Keith said. “The doctor at the children’s hospital said, ‘To be honest with you, this is a once in a lifetime diagnosis for me. I’ll probably never have a case like this again the rest of my career.’” “For them, reaching out to the doctor in Pittsburgh was big, just so they could, because she has a database of people who have had Krabbe disease and she’s been able to take that information, and I know they were able to compare where Bryce is at and compare that to other people that got diagnosed in a similar time frame and are showing similar symptoms,” said Keith. “But most places don’t have access to that
information and to those resources.” Kyle and Jenna have received an abundance of support from their friends, family and community members. Family members created an online journal for Bryce so anyone can see how he is doing. It is also an outlet for the “B.Strong Foundation.” Bryce’s aunt and uncle, Keith and Mia Heckendorf, created the “B.Strong bands” as a reminder of his continued strength and perseverance.
“
THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE WISHING, HOPING AND PRAYING FOR HIM AND WONDERING ‘HOW DID THAT TEST GO?’”
“Obviously for us personally, it takes on the message of Bryce,” explained Keith. “The strength that he needs to continue to fight the battle he’s fighting, and the strength he gives all of us, as we see him fight this battle, but B.Strong can also mean a lot of different things to a lot of different people depending on the situation. Just to be strong in the face of adversity no matter what kind of adversity they’re facing. As they wear the band it can be a constant reminder for them.”
kendorf HecBROTHERS
Growing up Heckendorf meant a life of athletics. All three brothers were collegiate athletes. Their parents were both teachers and coaches so athletics became a way of life.
KEITH HECKENDORF Bryce’s Uncle
• Played football at St. Cloud State University . • Recently named the quarterbacks coach at the University of North Carolina
KOLE HECKENDORF Bryce’s Uncle
• Bison Wide Receiver (2004-2008)
“We wanted to create a support system, share Bryce’s story and spread awareness,” Kristen Heckendorf, Kole’s wife, said. “There are so many people that are wishing, hoping and praying for him and wondering ‘How did that test go? What was found out? How did Christmas go? Are you sleeping?’ Instead of the overwhelming amount
• Currently coaches at St. John’s University, Minn
KYLE HECKENDORF Bryce’s Dad
• Baseball Star at University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh • Currently coaches high school football
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HECKENDORF WAY
There is no denying Bryce’s strength. Despite going through a battery of tests and hospital visits, he can still smile, laugh and melt hearts.
of phone calls, (we) follow his journal and any type of events for him and how a donation could be made.” For Kristen and Kole, the support system is their way of helping Bryce. The Heckendorf family bond is strong, and they didn’t think twice about kickstarting a foundation.
Bryce doesn’t know hardly any of the people that have reached out to support him on a personal level, but it’s amazing how many people know the family, or how many people have heard the story. How it’s touched their lives in some way. Whether it’s been to call or write, it’s been overwhelming to see the support that they’ve been able to receive.”
“For us, the whole thought behind the process is that we want them to be able to do everything that is possible for Bryce, to give him the best life possible,” Keith said. “We did not want it to be a financial decision for Kyle and Jenna as parents.” Kyle and Jenna have felt much support from so many different people, even total strangers. It is similar to the support Bison athletes feel from Bison Nation. “The platform that we have through athletics and the following they have of fans, it’s amazing how many people that’ll touch in a short period of time,” Keith said. “It’s funny because obviously Kole and Kristen have lived that, they’ve lived being Bison and being in the spotlight of Fargo, they’ve felt that support. It’s amazing the fan support that is out there.
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KOLE
ndorf HeckATeNDSU
42
Four year letterman who started 42 of 43 career games.
#1
First receiver in school history to lead team in catches four consecutive seasons.
2,732
Tallied 2,732 career receiving yards and 17 career touchdowns.
B.STRONG The B.Strong fund is a way to raise funds for Kyle and Jenna, as well as to show support.
thebstrongfund.org To become a part of this great bond created by the Heckendorfs, donate or offer support by logging onto the website above.
During the 2007 season, the
Bison were down by 19 points in the fourth quarter against Cal Poly. The Bison stormed back on first down from their own 20yard line, Steve Walker completed a deep pass down the right sideline, and Heckendorf did the rest, scoring a go-ahead 80-yard touchdown with 38 seconds left. It was one of the most memorable moments of Heckendorf’s career.
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TEAM
MAKERS our team’s success, but it should translate to your financial support of Bison Athletics.
Team Makers — Helping Athletes Continue the Success By Paul Bougie
G
reetings from the FargoDome’s west parking lot. It’s just close enough to the BSA to listen to Saul swing that hammer and take her down! Even though we still have some of our great student athletes on the field of play, all I can do is say, what a year. There is no need to go over all of the events and accomplishments that NDSU has earned this year (with more coming.) And, as I look back, I would like to say on behalf of all the NDSU Team Makers, thank you to all of our incredible student athletes for everything you do. It is not just the passion that you bring to your team in competition, it is the hard work that you do in the classroom, your efforts in the community and overall how you conduct yourself in every situation. I hear from many how impressed they are with the way you carry yourselves. Being here at Bison Illustrated on a daily basis, I have the opportunity to meet some of these athletes first hand. As I watch and visit with them, it is just another reason to say that I am proud to be a Bison. As I write my check for my Team Makers dues, I don’t think about tickets, tailgating spots or where I get to sit in the new Sanford Health Athletic Complex (as long as I’m close enough to Saul to help him coach. Just kidding, Saul. See you on the golf course.) I look at these young men and women and what they are doing for us. I have said it before — when we are passionate about a team, we take ownership. It is this pride that should carry over not just in the Bison gear you wear or the way we brag to friends of
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B I S O N I L L U S T R A T E D •A P R I L 2 014
“The real thing you should get from being a Team Maker is the fact that you are helping the student athletes achieve their goals on the field and in the classroom. Yes, there are priority points and many other amenities that you receive as a Team Maker, but helping a student achieve success is everythig to me.”
I have also been asked, “What do I get for being a Team Maker?” Well sure there are the perks for being a member, for example if you’re a Team Maker this very copy of Bison Illustrated was delivered electronically to your inbox and sent right to your home. However, the real thing you should get from being a Team Maker is the fact that you are helping the student athletes achieve their goals on the field and in the classroom. Yes, there are priority points and many other amenities that you receive as a Team Maker, but helping a student achieve sucess is everything to me. Well, as the year comes to a close and we all get ready for summer, the lakes, the gardens, the golf course, riding the Harley — whatever it may be — make sure you remember to do one thing: join Team Makers. It only takes a moment. And as you sip from your tailgating approved cup, watching the sunset — remember you have done a good thing. Well I’m off to start passing off my tailgating spots and to see where the grill will go next fall. Remember, just because there are no teams playing this summer, there are student athletes training to be the best so we can enjoy a top rated Bison Athletic team. Oops, almost forgot. Make sure you watch the start of the demolition of the BSA (or the new field house as they called it in 1980.) Take a moment to thank those who donated to the Bison Edge campaign to make this renovation happen. And if you want to be part of that, get your name on a door or office, get ahold of Jack Maughan at 701231-8984 or Amy Ruley at 701-231-8875. They will be more than happy to help you make that gift. That’s all I got today. Have a great summer and see you around town. Don’t forget about the Spring Game on April 26 and we’ll see you in Ames, Iowa on August 30. * Paul Bougie is the President of Team Makers. Team Makers is a non-profit organization committed to raising scholarship money for student-athletes and assisting them in earning degrees for a successful future.
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Cracking the glass ceiling: NCAA Tournament win causes nation to turn its head toward NDSU
T
he final horn just sounded. North Dakota State had notched the biggest win in program history by knocking off Big XII runnerup Oklahoma in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Saul Phillips did his best Jim Valvano impersonation, running around the court in pure elation before ending up in front of the NDSU fan section, Section 103, in Spokane’s Veterans Memorial Arena. Phillips stopped and thrust both hands in the air. Each hand was holding up Bison horns, the familiar rallying symbol for Bison Nation, index and pinky fingers held high. It was a moment captured live on national television – a moment replayed hundreds of times during the tournament’s opening weekend, a moment beamed into millions of homes from Washington to Florida, from Maine to California. It instantly catapulted NDSU into national relevance on the college basketball stage as a mid-major power to be reckoned with. Pretty remarkable for a team that was playing Division II ball when Athletic Director Gene Taylor arrived on campus in the summer of 2001. Fast forward to 2014 and Bison basketball was in its second tournament in six years of eligibility at the Division I level. More remarkably, in only six years of tournament eligibility, NDSU was standing in the national limelight after beating the Sooners, the No. 20 ranked team in the country. Charles Barkley invited Phillips golfing. The “New York Times,” the venerable Grey Lady herself, sent a reporter to document one of the biggest stories in college sports, the rise of a new hoops power. That reporter, John Branch, summed things up with the headline of his March 21 story: “North Dakota State Thinks Big, Has Fun, Earns Attention.” Branch is right. And the Bison are just getting warmed up.
“While midnight may have struck for this year’s Cinderella, the Bison cracked the glass ceiling, laying the groundwork for big things.”
Anyone thinking about playing basketball for the Bison should take notice. The “New York Times,” the best known newspaper on the planet, has labeled Phillips one of the most exciting coaches in the country to play for. “What makes Phillips different is that he is the rare basketball coach who appears to have fun coaching.” Branch goes on to note how Phillips’ players have just as much fun winning and playing in Fargo, N.D., as anywhere in the country, including San Diego. “The humor is contagious among the players. … After the (Oklahoma) game, when Phillips said of (Lawrence) Alexander, ‘I love him and he’s a winner,’ Alexander replied, ‘I love you, too, Saul.’” How many other coaches do you hear talk about their players like that? How many players, without hesitation, echo the sentiment right back? Rare indeed. In an era where college basketball has, to some, devolved into a cold, corporate culture where there’s less fun and more players are under the laser microscope of pressure, the Bison are a new breed. Take, for example, this exchange between Taylor Braun, the Summit League player of the year, Alexander and Phillips after NDSU’s overtime win against the Sooners. NDSU trailed 66 – 63 with only twelve seconds left in regulation when Alexander buried 90
B I S O N I L L U S T R A T E D • A P R I L 2 014
a three from the right wing in front of the NDSU bench to send things into overtime. During the postgame press conference, the two Bison stars talked about the biggest shot in school history. “And what did you say when it was in the air,” Braun asked Alexander, both of them enjoying the moment. Alexander replied with one word and an earto-ear smile, “Buckets.” Phillips joined the act, kidding Alexander, “That’s a lot of confidence there, big fella.” In the locker room celebration following the game, Phillips summed up the shot. “Wow, wow, wow. Hey, L.A., simply one of the biggest shots in school history. You’re going to be on one shining moment,” Phillips said, referencing the CBS montage played after the Final Four’s national championship game. But don’t take my word for it. Listen to how Steve Fisher, San Diego State’s Hall of Fame head coach, described the Bison. “Very, very, very impressed,” began Fisher. “They play exceptionally well together. They’re expertly coached. They know what they want to do, how they want to do it and do it.” This from a coach who has amassed a 24 – 13 career record in March Madness, led Michigan to a national championship in 1989, and recruited the iconic Fab Five, who appeared in back-to-back Final Fours in 1992 and 1993. “This is not a team doing it with smoke and mirrors; they’re talented.” It was our school’s first-ever tournament win, one of the most significant victories not just in NDSU history, but the history of the entire state of North Dakota, all sports, all schools. It was at once a program-defining and program-changing moment. “The whole experience was unbelievable,” said Braun. “Just the atmosphere was a hundred times greater than I expected. Just the intensity, everything about the game was unbelievable.” It promises to be the first of many such moments for the up-and-comers from Fargo led by their funloving head coach.
With the newfound notoriety, many will be taking a second look at NDSU. According to a study released the last week of March by the U.S. Census Bureau, Fargo is the fourth fastest-growing metropolitan area in the country. Phillips says the trick is getting recruits to visit NDSU so they can see what the city and university are really like. Such visits open eyes and show recruits that Fargo is nothing like the outdated and inaccurate stereotype made popular by the 1996 hit movie “Fargo.” The exposure and outpouring of love the Bison have received from their tournament run has helped. “It will help. We had to smash some perceptions about Fargo. We do,” Phillips explained. Phillips specifically noted that many media members now on the Bison bandwagon have never been to North Dakota’s largest city. “Fargo’s actually a really cool place and it’s got a ton of youth with the colleges in town, ton of energy, great employment, just a nice place.” While midnight may have struck for this year’s Cinderella, the Bison cracked the glass ceiling, laying the groundwork for big things. After falling short in their attempt at the Sweet 16, Phillips had a final message for Bison Nation. “I expect great things out of this program. We’re going to build, we’re going to get better, we’re going to have better facilities, we’re going to work harder,” concluded Phillips. The template is in place. “I think if we do what we did with this group, we have got a pretty good template to give it an effort.” And who wouldn’t want to be part of that? Everybody up for the tipoff, the march is on!
*Swanson is a native of Maddock, ND, a proud NDSU alum and a life-long Bison fan.
We Dirty Think Dirty. Word. Success Is A
Where others see dust and dirt and mud, First United Bank sees soil and roots and potential. Our foundation was built on ag, and we’ve helped generations of farmers to build and improve their operations. Even our banking fundamentals – from checking accounts to vehicle loans – were grown on the farm. After all, great things start in the soil – including banks. When it’s time to get to work, you need a bank that rolls up its sleeves.
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Who is the best teammate to room with on the road?
What is your most memorable moment in your sport?
What are you most looking forward to this summer?
Anyone that doesn’t snore. (Trevor Jaunich snores the loudest!)
Beating the University of Arizona Wildcats who went on to win the College World Series.
Relaxing, no school or work, and having a job to keep me busy.
Blake Turbak
Baseball
Turbak burst onto the scene as a freshman by making the Summit League all-Tournament team. Now as a senior, Turbak will look to provide some pop in the Bison batting order and will look to help carry the Bison back to the Summit League championship game for a third consecutive season.
Abby Weller
Golf
Weller is one of three seniors on the golf team that has swung her way onto several leaderboards already this season. Weller placed second in the Cobber Open earlier this fall by shooting a 73. With three top 10 finishes already this season, Weller looks to keep improving going into the Summit League tournament this spring.
Sarah (Storandt.) That way I can wear her clothes when I forget mine.
Adam Coykendall. One of the funniest guys I know.
My most memorable moment was having the opportunity to throw alongside my coaches, Justin St. Clair, and Riley Dolezal, while Riley was preparing for US Nationals at one of our home meets.
Faith K. She runs into mirrors and we have great talks.
USA Junior Championships in Eugene, Oregon my Freshman year. I got to see such amazing athletes.
Definitely my summer internship.
Whoever played the best that day.
Playing in the U.S. Amateur.
Playing golf with my friends.
Landin Rognlin
Track&Field
Rognlin has made steady improvements throughout his career as a Bison. Chucking the javelin exclusively has made Rognlin a unique athlete for the Bison and is on pace to break his personal best 53.89 meters later this spring. Rognlin is also a proud member of NDSU’s SAAC program.
Winning conference last spring.
Going camping with my husband and entering log-sawing competitions with my teammate Sarah.
Summer road trips with my wife, Jocelyn.
Emily Lesser
Track&Field
Lesser has been a vital competitor for the seven-straight League champion Bison track and field team. She threw her way into the Summit League championship crown by sweeping every throwing event earlier this winter. Lesser is also the Bison record holder with longest indoor shot put (50 ft. 4.75 in.) and weight throw (64 ft. 4 in.).
Bill Carlson
golf
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Carlson is a local golfer from Fargo South High School that can be seen dominating golf courses across the area. As a junior, Carlson has competed in 25 events in his career and has finished in the top-10 in 12 of the events. Carlson shot a personlow 68 at the Navy Fall Classic in Annapolis, Md., earlier this fall.
B I S O N I L L U S T R A T E D •A P R I L 2 014
Who was your hero growing up?
My older brother for letting me tag along to play baseball with all of his friends when I was little.
What is your favorite postgame meal?
My favorite postgame meal is some venison sausage and mashed potatoes.
My brother Ole.
Burgers.
My grandpa, Ron, who once promised to dump an entire truckload of ice cream on our front lawn to guarantee that I would have a white Christmas when I was a little boy. He has continued to show me the importance of family, integrity and hard work ever since.
Sushi with my teammates. You can’t have one without the other after a big meet.
My older brothers. They’re just so cool!
I love breakfast food. I’ll splurge on pancakes.
My parents.
Pizza
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